Fourth of July Weekend Sees Quest Kodiak 100 Seaplane Crash in NYC’s East River
A dramatic general aviation incident unfolded over the Fourth of July weekend when a Quest Kodiak 100 seaplane made a violent hard landing in New York City’s East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. This unexpected event sent shockwaves through the aviation community and triggered a major emergency response.
The aircraft, having departed from East Hampton earlier that day, bounced across the water surface three times before the struts supporting the left float collapsed. This incident led to a wing strut snapping and caused what the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) described as “substantial damage” to the aircraft. All eight people on board were evacuated, with two sustaining minor injuries. The stricken seaplane was later seen upright and being towed back to a dock by FDNY rescue crews.
Dramatic video captured from inside the cabin by 16-year-old passenger Khloe Todd shows the plane bouncing and tilting sharply to the left as cockpit warnings sounded and passengers gasped. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it received a distress call at 12:01 p.m. near the Skyport at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive. It’s worth noting that air traffic control was not providing services to the aircraft at the time of the incident. The Kodiak 100, which FAA ownership records show was built just last year, is a single-turboprop utility aircraft widely used for charter and backcountry operations.
A preliminary accident report from the FAA is expected this week, with the NTSB leading the full investigation.
Source: CNN – Seaplane Crash Lands in New York’s East River (July 5, 2026)